92 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



from the manure, top heat from the sun, water from the daily appHcation, and 

 air at midday. Without plenty of air the other requisites will be fruitless. 



All seedlings should be transplanted into other hot beds, ^old frames Or 

 intermediate beds when two inches high. For fear that there may be localities 

 where stable manure for hot beds cannot readily be obtained, we give the follow- 

 ing simple formulafor "artificial heat" for the production of a moderate and con- 

 tinuous heat, the quantities named being sufficient for a space 8x12 feet. 



Take as the crude materials, 500 pounds of straw, three bushels powdered 

 quicklime, six pounds muriatic acid, six pounds saltpetre. Having prepared the 



Fig. 921— Hot Bed. 



excavation of proper dimensions, spread three or four inches of forest leaves or 

 old hay in the bottom : Upon that spread eight inches of the straw, tramp it 

 down and sprinkle with one-third part of the quickUme. Dilute the six pounds 

 of muriatic acid with twenty gallons of water and, by means of an old broom 

 sprinkle the bed with one-third part of the solution. Make another layer of 

 eight inches of the straw, applying quicklime and the solution as before. Repeat 

 for the third layer. Upon this make a fourth layer of straw, and upon it sprinkle 

 the four pounds of saltpetre dissolved in 30 gallons of water. Place the box in 

 position, bank up outside, within the box spread three inches rich, finely pulver- 

 ized earth, and then put on the sash. A heat will soon be generated which will 

 continue for two or three weeks. The same methods as to location and care 

 will apply to this as in the above. — Indiana Farmer. 



